A profile of Adam Yates as our build-up continues to the Tour de France coming to west Essex and East London

ORICA GreenEDGE’s Adam Yates is set to compete in his first Tour de France after a successful opening season with the Australian-based outfit.

The 21-year-old’s strong campaign has seen him emerge as an outside contender for the White Jersey; given to the best young rider in the individual time classification.

Twin brother of fellow team member Simon, Yates signed his first professional contract with ORICA GreenEDGE at the start of 2014 and impressed on the world stage immediately.

The Bury-born cyclist won the White Jersey in his first race at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina; finishing 11th in overall classification.

It was not until the Tour of Turkey in April when Yates won his first professional stage and subsequently his only overall tour triumph – a first for a British rider in that country.

Since then, the Brit has finished fifth at the Amgen Tour of California and was the main rider for his team at the lucrative Criterium de Dauphine in France earlier this month, coming sixth in General Classification.